Thill-coupling.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

,No. 733,869- I I. OSGOOD:

THILL COUPLING. APPLIUATION mum In. 20. 1902.

NO MODEL.

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Patented (l'uly 14,1963.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC OSGOOD, OF AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" THlLL-COUPLING.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,869, dated July 14, 1903. Application filed March 20. 1902. Serial No. 99,113. (No model.)

. To all whom it. may concern.

Be it known that I, ISAAC OSGOOD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and usef 111 Improvement in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlugs.

The invention has relation more especially to thill-couplings of that class in which a toggle-like action of the parts is utilizedyand has for its general aims to produce a more convenient and practical thill-coupling than has heretofore been known, as well as to secure certain advantages in use over preexisting thill-couplings.

The principles of my invention are capable of being embodied in more or lessvaried form, although I have represented in the drawings the best form in which I have thus far embodied the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the said embodiment of the-invention in side elevation in closed condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in open condition. Fig. 3 is a detail view in section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. in elevation detached.

A thill-coupling embodying my invention comprises, essentially, a fixed jaw 1, a movable jaw 2, an operating-lever 3,,and alink 4. The parts are operatively combined by pivotally connecting the operating-lever 3 and link 4, respectively, to the" movable jaw 2 and to a fixture, respectively, as at a c, and also connecting them pivotally with each other, as at b. The said fixture usually is constituted by a continuation of the fixed jaw 1. Ordinarily and preferably the features of the invention are -employed in connection' with the thill-iron 5, the fixed jaw 1- being fixedly applied to the'latter or integral therewith,-so that the thill-iron constitutes a continuation of the fixed jaw 1, and the movable jaw 2 being pivoted, as at d, to the fixed jaw or other portion of the thill-iron, although the invention in some of its embodiments is not limited in this respect.

The operating-lever 3 and link l constitute a toggle interposed between the movable jaw 2 and the thill-iron and enable the said mov- Fig. 4 shows the operating-leverable jaw to be opened and closed through the application'of power to the free arm or opersting-handle 31 of said lever. When the said lever is swung into position to straighten the toggle, as in Fig. 1, the movable jaw is thereby caused toclose toward'the fixed jaw, as in the said figure. When the lever is caused to assume the position which it occupies in Fig. "2,the toggle is bent, and thereby the movable jaw is caused to separate from the fixed jaw. Usually, but not necessarily in all embodiments of the broad principles of the in- ;vention, the lever 3 is pivoted to the movable jaw 2 and the link 4 is pivoted to the thilliron. This arrangement is preferred, inasmuch as it enables the free arm or operatinghandle 31 of the lever 3 to lie closely against Qtlre under side of the thill-iron out of the way :when the thill-coupling is closed, while inasmuch as in such position the said free arm or operating-handle 31 extends forwardly along the under side of the thill it is readily accessible to enable it to be grasped and manipulated for the purpose of opening the thillcoupling.

A characteristic feature of the toggle arrangement is the fact that the centers at b o are so'arranged with relation to one another ;that in moving the lever 3, so as to cause the parts to assume the closed position, which is represented in Fig. 1, the center b is carried 'islightly past or beyond the straight line con necting the centers at c with each other. So

tiveto centers at c the movable jaw 2 is locked positively in its closed position against the the fixed jaw l. Preferably, also, the arrangement of centers (1 a b with relation to one another' is such that in the fully-opened position of the parts the center a will be carried slightly past a straight line connecting the centers 61 b.

For the purpose of insuring against too free a movement of the operating-lever from either of its extreme positions the tension of aspring is utilized in connection therewith. The

spring may be applied and combined vari ously in practice; but preferably it is arranged and caused to act as in the drawings.

In the latter the thill-iron is formed with a longitudinal cavity or recess51, and within long as center 1) occupies this position relaaction-of forcetending to press it away from the latter is contained a blade or leaf-spring 6, the latter being somewhat bowed or bent longitudinally, so that its middle tends to projectbelowitsoppositeends. Thesaidspringti is secured within the cavity or recess 51 in any suitable manner. Herein the spring is placed loosely within the cavity or recess 51 and is retained in place by the tail of link 4. The link 4: is furnished with a tail 41, which is arranged in position to be borne against by the middle portion of spring 6. The pressure of the spring against the said tail41 tends to hold the parts in the closed position, which is shown in Fig. 1, and to keep the center b above the line which passes through centers (t c. When the lever 3 is moved to open the thill-coupling, the action of tail 41 of link 4 against the spring 6 increases the tension of the latter. In the fully-opened position of the parts, which is represented in Fig. 2, the pressure of the spring against the tail 41 tends to turn the link 4 in a direction to carry the iron, and also connected with each other, the

centerb toward the center d. The pressure of the spring in this position of the parts tends to hold center a beyond a straight line, connecting centers (2 and b, and thereby yieldingly locks the coupling in its open condition. The operating-lever 3 swings forward and rearward in the same vertical plane that is occupied by the thill-iron.

For the purpose of preventing access of dust, mud, water, &c., to the spring 6 and to the portions of said spring and of the tail 11 which work in contact with each other and to the bearings at the opposite ends of the link the spring 6 is placed within the'longij locked in its closed position, and the spring tudinal cavity or recess 51, that is formed in the thill-iron, and the operating-lever 3 is shaped and fitted so that it closes down over the said cavity or recess, so as to constitute 1 in the closed condition of the coupling a cover for the spring, the link, and the cavity or recess in which the spring is contained and within which the tail of the link works. The lever 3 is formed adjacent its fulcrum a with lateral flanges 31 31, between which the link 4 is pivoted at b, and in the closed position of the parts the said flanges completely inclose the main portion of the link. The lcver 3 is recessed at 32 to receive the hub 42 of the link adjacent the pivot or center "0.

The free forward extremity of the lever 3 is furnished with an open or U shaped guide, formed by opposite lugs or lips 33 33 on the said extremity. Within the said guide is received the safety-strap 7. The latter is shown looped around a cross-pin 8, riveted to lugs 9 9, formed integral with the thill-iron. The thill and thill-iron are shown fastened together near the forward end of the thill-iron by means of a screw 10. The rear endof the thill is shown fitted within a socket formed for its reception between side lips 11 11, with which the thill-iron is formed, the said side lips having ears or lugs 12 12 rising therefrom. Usually these ears or lugs stand up straight before the thill and thill-iron are connected with each other. After the thill and thill-iron have been fitted together and secured by the screw 10 the said ears or lugs are hammered down over the end of the thill, so as to securely clasp the said end. This construction enables the use of bolts or screws passing through the end of the thill to be avoided, if deemed advisable. These various features of construction are notin themselves material to the invention.

It will be apparent that by pivoting the lever to the movable jaw and arranging the lever so that it shallswing forwardly and close up against the under side of the thilliron the said lever is not in the way of the safety-strap 7. (See Fig. 1.)

I claim as my invention 1. The thill-coupling comprising, cssentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw,.-and the movable jaw, and in combination therewith the operating-lever and link connected with the movable jaw and the thillsaid lever and link operating the movablejaw to open and close the latter and also constituting a toggle whereby the movable jaw is locked in its closed position. i

2. The thillcoupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, and the movable jaw, and in combination therewith the operating-lever and link connected with the movable jaw and the thilliron, and also connected with each other, the said lever and link operating the movable jaw to open'and close the latter and also constituting a toggle whereby the movable jaw is operatively engaging with an eccentric portion of one of said parts to hold the parts in position.

3. The thill coupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the operating-lever and link connected with the movable jaw and thill-iromand also connected with each other, and the spring operatively engaging with one of said parts to hold the parts in position, the said lever and link operating the movablej aw to open and close the latter, and the parts being arranged to lock the movable jaw in its open and closed positions, respectively.

1. The thill-coupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the operating-lever and link located between their points of connection with the said movable jaw and thill-iron, and the spring operatively engaging with one of said parts to hold the parts in position.

5. The thill-coupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the operating-lever and link located between their points of connection with the said movable jaw and the thilliron, and the spring operatively engaging with one-9f said parts, the parts being arranged to beheld locked in open and closed positions, respectively, by the action of the spring.

.6. The shill-coupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the lever and link whereby said movable jaw is operated, and the separate spring coacting with the tail pertaining to one of the said parts for operating the movable jaw.

7. The thill coupling comprising, essentially, the thill-iron provided with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the lever and linkfor operating the movable jaw, and the spring coacting with the tail pertaining to one of the saidparts for operating the movable jaw, the

fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the link pivoted to the thill-iron, and the lever having said link pivotally connected thereto, itself pivoted to the movable jaw, and arranged to close forwardly against the under side of the thill- 1ron.

10. In a thill-coupling, in combination, the thill-iron and the fixed jaw, the movable jaw,

and actuating devices for said movable jaw provided with an operating-lever pivoted directly to the movable jaw.

11. In a thill-conpling, in combination, the thill-iron and the fixed jaw,the movable jaw, and actuating devices forsaid movable jaw provided with an operating-lever pivoted directly to the movable jaw, the said movable jaw being pivoted to the fixed jaw at one point and to the operating-lever at another, and said lever being pivotallyconnected with the movable jaw at one point and having also a pivotal support at a second point.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC OSGOOD. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND. 

